The Sifting Team
The first stage of the judging process is to sift through the images and decide on the longlist for the judges to then rank. To get a broad balance, and to allow a wider involvement in the event, we have several groups and individuals who will choose their favourites for the judges’ final decisions.
What is Sifting?
The first stage of judging is done by the sifters; individuals and groups working independently, looking at every image and deciding whether to shortlist it for the judging panel - all members of the judging panel are also sifters. Their target is to each pick the half-dozen images in each topic which they think should be put forward on the shortlist. They will also be looking at the complete galleries, recommending which are the potential gallery winner.
Who are the Sifters?
One sifting group is David Fisher and his team at our sponsor, Fisher Studios. As professional photographers, they are used to reviewing hundred of images to select the best. David’s team will work together to select their contributions to the shortlist.
The Oxford Photomarathon Committee, John, Merrill, and Richard, will also meet as a group reviewing the images together on a big screen. as members of a very supportive camera club, our problem will be to limit how many we like - we have a tendency to see the positive in any image!
Martin Wackenier is an Oxfordshire-based photographer especially well-known in Abingdon for his shop, Divine Times Photography.
Gareth, at our sponsor London Camera Exchange, is a keen amateur photographer.
Stephen Foote is one of our judges who will also sift the entire set of entries.
Olga Kozyreva will also sift. Olga commented “it will be great to see the broad range of creative ideas from the very start”